Flight: TG2309 Bangkok - Mandalay 09.50 - 11.15

Meet & greet: On arrival at Mandalay airport, you will be welcomed to Myanmar by your private English-speaking guide and then transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon guided tour of Mandalay: This afternoon, set off from your hotel to experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar - the Mahamuni Pagoda. Afterwards visit the Shwe Inbin Monastery and the Golden Palace Monastery, the latter being a superb example of a traditional wooden building. Later you will stop off at Kuthodaw Pagoda which is made of marble and sometimes described as the world’s largest ‘book’. You will also visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop, as well as a Kalaga tapestry craftsman’s shop, before heading to Mandalay Hill to view the sun setting over the city.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel by the Red Canal (Shan Room)

Full day guided tour to Amanpura, Ava & Sagaing: After breakfast, leave Mandalay for Amarapura, 10 miles out of the city, to visit Mahagandayon Monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to the 200 year old U Bein teak bridge which was built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was the capital. The Bagaya Monastery will fascinate you with its intriguing collection of Buddha statues. This afternoon a short drive brings you to Myitnge River for the short boat trip across the river to the former Royal Capital of Inwa (Ava) where a horse-drawn carriage is waiting. You will visit Nanmyint Watch Tower, the remains of a palace building nicknamed "the leaning tower of Ava"; the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, built of brick and stucco and Bargayar Monastery, famous for its ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Today's excursion ends with a visit to the Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees, in time for sunset.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel by the Red Canal (Shan Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After breakfast, transfer to Gawein Jetty and board your cruise boat for the two day cruise to Bagan.

Please note: the following cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Irrawaddy River Cruise: After checking in, you will be welcomed into the saloon to have lunch and then the river journey to Bagan will begin. Your first stop will be at Mingnum which is around 2 hours away. On arrival, the ship's English-speaking manager guided you around the Mingun Pagoda Complex and you will have a chance to see the enormous unfinished paya as well as the vast bronze bell. Later, moor for the night at a sandbank mid-stream and after dinner you can enjoy a Dance and Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck (if available). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the RV Paukan 2012 (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Irrawaddy River Cruise: Early in the morning, cruise downstream. During the two hour journey you can admire the natural beauty of the river and the life on its banks while relaxing on the sundeck or your own cabin, and later see the sunrise over Sagaing Hill. After breakfast, you will have a tour of Sagaing and then return to the boat in time to set off on the river journey to Bagan. Set sail and observe the diverse river life and the magnificent scenery along the way. Lunch is served on board. This afternoon, you will visit Yandabo. On arrival, take a walk through this delightful village which is isolated and without proper road access. Yandabo is home to a thriving pottery making community where the people lead a simple life making a variety of clay products which they barter trade for other commodities. Visit the village school and a monastery that has existed on the same site for more than 400 years. (Please note that dependent on river conditions alternative river stops might take place today). Dinner and overnight stay on board.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the RV Paukan 2012 (Main Deck Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Irrawaddy River Cruise: After breakfast on board, set course for Bagan. On arrival you will disembark and be met by your guide who will transfer you to check in at your hotel in Bagan.

Private transfer: Upon your arrival in Bagan, you will be met by your private guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel.

Guided tour of Bagan: After checking in at your hotel set out to explore the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; Ku Byanuk Gyi, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; Khay Min Ga Temple, noted for its panoramic views and Ananda Temple, with its four standing Buddha images. In the afternoon see one of Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts being made at a lacquerware craftsman’s workshop in nearby Myinkaba village, and then continue on to Manuha Temple, built in the Mon style in 1059, and afterwards stop off at Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha. As the afternoon draws to a close your guide will advise on the pagodas offering the best viewpoints to watch the sunset over the plains of Bagan.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (Deluxe River View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Optional sunrise balloon flight over Bagan: Early this morning, you will be met at your hotel and taken to the balloon launching site by coach. The sunrise flight will last approximately 1 hour and you will experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the sky. The balloons are now required to stay a minimum of 300 feet above the temples so close up photography can be a little tricky, but witnessing the vast plains of Bagan from the air is still an experience that will live long in the memory. On touching back down you will enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne, before being transferred back to your hotel for breakfast. The supplement for this ride is not included in the price - please ask for details.

Full day guided tour of Bagan: After breakfast, visit Bagan's colourful local market to see a huge variety of exotic produce. Continue with visits to the Tayokepyay Temple in Min Nan Thu Village, Phaya Thone Zu and Nandamanya Temples, both noted for their exquisite 13th century murals, and Kyat Kan Cave monastery which is a famous meditation retreat in Bagan. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant and in the afternoon you will also see some farming villages around Bagan which will give you an insight into the lives of the local people. Late afternoon use an ox-cart, the traditional mode of transport for people in Myanmar's countryside, to see a few more of Bagan's ancient temples, before returning to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (Deluxe River View Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning tour of Mount Popa: After breakfast, you will drive for around 2 hours to visit Mount Popa which is an extinct volcano offering spectacular views over the surrounding countryside from its summit. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as "nats" and you will have time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. After time to explore, you will have lunch in a local restaurant and then drive back to Bagan, stopping off to observe the workings of a toddy palm plantation.

Afternoon at leisure: The rest of the afternoon you are free to relax at the hotel

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bagan Thirpyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (Deluxe River View Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the domestic flight to Heho.

Flight: HK917 Bagan - Heho 08.05 - 08.35

Guided tour to the Pindaya Caves: On arrival in Heho, you will drive to Pindaya which will take around 2 hours. On arrival, you will visit the Pindaya Caves which are a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images that have been places there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant.  

Private transfer to Inle Lake: After lunch in Pindaya, set off for Nyaung Shwe (around 2.5 hours) and on arrival transfer by boat to your hotel on the lake. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Villa Inle Resort & Spa (Lake Front Villa)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Guided tour of Inle Lake by boat: After breakfast, you will set out with your guide, and boat driver, on an enjoyable trip to explore the amazing Inle Lake and to see the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and the magnificent scenery. After lunch at a local restaurant on the lake itself, you will visit the Phaungdaw U Pagoda, one of the main shrines in Myanmar which date back to the 18th century; the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (on market days only). In the late afternoon return to the hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Villa Inle Resort & Spa (Lake Front Villa)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Exploring Inle Lake: Today is free to relax at your hotel, or explore more of Inle Lake. You have a boat and driver at your disposal, and your guide will provide some ideas and suggestions of more places to see and activities to do in the surrounding area.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Villa Inle Resort & Spa (Lake Front Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Boat journey from Inle Lake to Pekon: After breakfast, set off for on the 5 hour boat ride to Pekon in Kayah State. Cross the main body of Inle lake and enter a narrower part of the lake as you head for Sagar at the far south of Inle Lake. Sagar is one of the most beautiful areas in the Shan state and is less visited than some of the other attractions around the lake. On arrival you will be taken to see the fascinating ‘sunken stupas’, over 100 ancient stupas that are partially underwater during some months each year. Having seen the Stupas take a walk around the nearby monastery and village before eating lunch at either a local restaurant or a picnic provided by your guide. Afterwards, you will continue south following beautiful river scenery until you reach the jetty at Pekon where you will meet up with your driver. 

Road journey from Pekku to Loikaw: On arrival in Pekon, you will disembark, have a brief look around the town, and transfer by car to Loikaw - the capital of Kayah State and your base for the next two nights.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kayah Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day exploring Padaung villages around Loikaw: After breakfast this morning, drive outside of Loikaw, leaving the plains behind and heading out into the richly green hills of Kayah state. After an hour, turn off the main road and onto smaller, rougher tracks leading further into Padaung territory. The final section up into Banphet village is through stunning green hills and fertile red earth, and makes for an extremely pleasant short trek if wished. On arrival in the first village you should encounter several ladies wearing the famous Padaung neck rings. Note that most younger Padaung ladies have either given up the practice, or have moved (often forcibly) into northern Thailand to make a living from their appearance, so those that you meet will often be in their elderly years. You will have the chance to stroll in a couple of Padaung villages, and will likely be invited in their homes to meet the families and learn about their lifestyle. Later, begin your journey back into Loikaw, stopping en route at a smaller Padaung village much closer to the city. Here you will be able to meet several more long-necked ladies, but will note that the villages much closer to the city are more modern - expect many houses to be concrete, tin-roofed, and with electricity and running water. On arrival back in the city you have the option of seeing more of Loikaw's sights, including a bright and friendly nunnery, riverside restaurants, and time permitting some trips to nearby Kayah villages.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kayah Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport in time for the domestic flight to Yangon.

Flight: U8110 Heho - Yangon 09.00 - 09.55

Private transfer: On arrival in Yangon, you will be met by your guide  and driver who will transfer you to your hotel to check in.

Guided visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda: Late afternoon, enjoy an extended visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments - the Shwedagon Pagoda. This famous pagoda is 99m high, covered in gold leaf and shimmers in the sunlight. Lying as it does to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, the Shwedagon has until now dominated the skyline of Yangon. A visit late in the day is a perfect time to see this impressive temple as the temperature drops and locals gather to worship, pay their respects and create a wonderfully spiritual atmosphere.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Savoy Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Yangon: This morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Yangon’s Central Station for a train journey on the circular ‘commuter’ train line (about 40 minutes; please take note that the trains are very basic, often crowded and their schedule not reliable). You will get off at Hledan Station and immerse yourself in this lively local Myanmar neighbourhood where today’s more modern lifestyle mixes with old traditions. Visit the colourful Hledan Market and join the locals in a tea shop where they discuss important issues of the day. Continue on to Yangon University and drive through Thaton Road from where you will see the University Tennis Court, the football ground, the swimming pool, the Institute of Medicine, Institute of Education, and other sites around this once world-renowned academy. Later, lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. This afternoon your journey continues with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial style city centre. Start with a visit to Sule Pagoda which dates back some 2,000 years and then move on to Pansodan Street, famous for some of Yangon's most impressive colonial buildings, before continuing on to Pansodan jetty to observe the frenetic daily life on the Yangon River. 

Sunset cruise on the Yangon River: End the day with a peaceful cruise along the Yangon River. As the sun starts to set you will board the 'Royal Green River-Baby', a 12 seat vessel, and cruise along the Yangon River for a chance to see life on one of the waterways that plays a major part in the economy of Myanmar.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Savoy Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: At the appropriate time today, you will be collected from the Savoy Hotel and transferred to Yangon Mingaladon Airport for your flight to Kawthaung.

Flight: UB135 Yangon - Kawthaung 09.35 - 10.35

Private transfer with sightseeing: On arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and you will then set off on a short tour of this thriving border town. Afterwards, you will transfer to your hotel for some time at leisure and a chance to prepare for your next few days at sea.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Victoria Cliff Hotel & Resort (Ocean View Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer from hotel to cruise boat: This morning, you will be picked up from the hotel by staff from Burma Boating and you will be transferred to your cruise boat to begin your 5 night adventure in the Mergui Archipelago.

Sailing adventure around the Mergui Archipelago: After the welcome aboard your Burma Boating yacht, you will set sail to Barwell Island where you spend the evening on the beach. There is time for a swim before dinner and drinks.

Accommodation: Stay onboard the SY Meta IV or similar (Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Sailing adventure around the Mergui Archipelago: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board. Then, after a refreshing swim, start your passage to Island No.115, a place often frequented by Moken sea gypsies. In the afternoon you will reach the group of small islands called Mid Group. If time permits, you will go for a dinghy excursion into a nearby mangrove forest on Island No. 88. After the evening swim, you will have dinner in this beautiful covered area.

Accommodation: Stay onboard the SY Meta IV or similar (Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Sailing adventure around the Mergui Archipelago: In the morning, slowly sail towards the little village on Nyaung Wee Island and visit the local sea gypsy settlement there. After lunch, sail west to Great Swinton Island where you will have a jungle walk along the creek and a chance to collect seashells on the huge beach. For those interested in Buddhism, there is a short visit to a local monastery. Snorkelling, then sundowners on deck, before time to watch the bioluminescent plankton at night.

Accommodation: Stay onboard the SY Meta IV or similar (Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Sailing adventure around the Mergui Archipelago: Early morning, sail to tiny Ohway Island for the best snorkelling (and great fishing) in the region. Observe the colourful life of the reef, full of soft and hard corals and plenty of tropical fish. After lunch, set sail for Jar Lann Kyun and anchor in its large fjord, one of the most spectacular bays in the archipelago. In the mangrove forest you can watch the hornbills at dusk. Later, fine dining on board and relaxation time under the starry sky.

Accommodation: Stay onboard the SY Meta IV or similar (Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Sailing adventure around the Mergui Archipelago: Today, there is a long, leisurely sail towards Za Det Nge Island with its beautiful bays and beaches. Visit Rhino Island on the way with its stunning turquoise waters that are perfect for enjoying the sun. Later, move on towards Za Det Nge’s for a final dinner party on the beach.

Accommodation: Stay onboard the SY Meta IV or similar (Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Sailing adventure in the Mergui Archipelago: From early morning, start the passage back towards Kawthaung. There will be a casual brunch aboard before you reach the pier and bid farewell to the crew.

Transfer from Kawthaung to Ranong: Having disembarked from your cruise boat, staff from Burma Boating will transfer you to Ranong. After completion of the necessary immigration formalities you will cross into Thailand.

Transfer from Ranong to Phuket Airport: On arrival at the jetty in Ranong, you will be met by local staff and you will be given the choice of a short tour around Ranong or a chance to have a day room in Ranong (both options can be decided upon on the day and are payable locally). At around 3pm and you will set off south along the Andaman coast to Phuket. The journey should take around 4 hours, depending on local traffic, and on arrival in Phuket you will transfer to the airport to check in for your onward flight to Bangkok, and ultimately London.

Flight: TG212 Phuket - Bangkok 21.25 - 22.50

Meals: Breakfast